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LCISD staff propose small meal price increases for 2026-27; CEP and refund processes explained
Summary
Child Nutrition staff presented a recommended increase of 15 cents for breakfast and 25 cents for lunch for the 2026-27 school year to comply with federal pricing guidance; staff explained Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) status at campuses and family refund processes.
Child Nutrition staff informed the board of a proposed meal-price adjustment for the 2026-27 school year driven by federal price-calculation requirements. The district proposes raising all three breakfast price tiers by 15 cents (equivalent to approximately $25.95 annually for a paying student who eats breakfast daily) and lunch prices by 25 cents (approximately $43.25 annually), producing an estimated combined annual increase of $69.20 for a student who purchases both breakfast and lunch every school day.
Staff explained payment methods (student ID/account numbers and SchoolCafe online accounts), the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) process (30 campuses are CEP and do not require individual applications), the free/reduced application workflow (domestic processing with a ten-day window), and how negative balances are handled (value meals provided once an account reaches a negative $15, with accounts refundable on request at year-end). Trustees asked operational questions including how many campuses are CEP, how refunds are issued (checks or online requests) and safeguards for students who can't afford meals. Staff said campus-level outreach and newsletters inform families about eligibility and the free/reduced application process. The meal price item was presented as information and not acted on at the meeting.
